Fired Barfoot & Thompson agent unsure how Labour got data

The Barfoot & Thompson real estate agent fired over sales information used by Labour in its campaign against foreign buyers says he doesn't know how the party got it.

Grant Hargrave was the staffer reprimanded over the incident, The New Zealand Herald reports.

However, he would not comment further on the situation, aside from saying he didn't know anyone in Labour or how they managed to get hold of the information.

"I honestly just don't know," he said.

Mr Hargrave's profile has been removed from the company's website, which had previously boasted about of his "wealth of experience" in selling commercial and industrial property.

Labour has used the information to debate the issue of foreign property ownership in Auckland which it says is driving up house prices.

The data showed 40 percent of homes sold in Auckland over a three-month period were bought by people with Asian surnames, despite Chinese New Zealanders making up only 9 percent of the city's population.

The fallout is continuing for Labour with a party stalwart furious after discovering his wife's surname was likely one of those contained in leaked housing figures.

Long-time Labour member Shane Te Pou says he's not long bought property, and his wife's name means their details were probably among those leaked.

"I've just found out today that my information was likely part of that so I've contacted the Privacy Commissioner and I'm about to send a letter away to the leader of the Opposition and leader of my party," he says.

Labour's housing spokesman Phil Twyford's refused to confirm it was Mr Hargrave who leaked him the information, saying he'll protect his source like any journalist would.